Video

Scottish Country Dancing VideoVideo produced by the UK’s National Health Service. Scottish country dancing is an easy way to keep active and socialise at the same time. You can try it for yourself by learning a few easy steps now.

Articles

Insight – SBS TV
Transcript to an interview with Dr Michael Valenzeula from the University of New South Wales on the benefits of Scottish Country Dancing, as part of a larger programme on brain health. Screened 3 November 2010

Grab your partner for a bit of a flingArticle by Chris Elwell-Sutton on the UK’s Ceilidh Club and the number of young people becoming interested in Scottish Country Dancing and Ceilidh Dancing. Published in the London Evening Standard, June 2007.

Dance the Highland FlingArticle about Scottish Country Dancing in Lismore, NSW from the perspective of a brand new dancer. Published in the Northern Rivers Echo, July 2011.

Don’t Worry Be HappyArticle about Scottish Country Dancing and general happiness, by Julian Champkin.

Professor Michael Argyle
Article about the life and work of Professor Michael Argyle, the social psychologist who studied happiness , and thought dancing, church and marriage the best prescriptions. Daily Telegraph 12 September 2002.

Finally a quote from Dr Michael J. Valenzuela from his book It’s Never Too Late to Change Your Mind:

“… I really think dancing has a lot going for it. Let’s analyse it from the Three Keys point of view. Obviously taking dance classes and actually practicing a partner-based dance is a social experience, so that’s one big tick. Equally, dancing can be quite physical, as any one that’s spent a night dancing can confirm. Second big tick.

But what about the cognitive key? If you’ve never been to a dance class then you may not realise that it can actually be quite mentally demanding. First, there is learning to better control and co-ordinate your body, sometimes carrying out motions that you’ve never even tried before. Next there are the moves, complex sequences that need to first be put into short term memory for reproduction during class, and then into longer term memory so that you don’t start over again at the next class. Over time, effortful and deliberate retrieval of sequences from long term memory becomes effortless actions under the control of automatic motor memory processes. And then there is the perception of beat and rhythm, anticipation of partner’s movements and intentions and so on…no wonder sometimes it’s so hard to make it look easy! Learning to dance definitely has a strong cognitive component and therefore this pass-time more than adequately fulfills the Three Keys. Besides that it is a heap of fun, often addictive for beginners and you get to dance with beautiful people (need I say more).”

Scots on The Rocks is a not for profit organisation dedicated to promoting Scottish Country Dancing in Sydney, Australia.

Why Scottish Country Dancing?

"A late 1990s BBC documentary exploring the question of 'what makes people happy' concluded that the activity generating the greatest degree of happiness in its participants was Scottish country dancing. The aerobic demands of this type of dancing are considerable, and enthusiasts of all ages tend to be physically fit. So here is a hobby that is officially more fun than sex and also better exercise. What's more, you are not only allowed to change partners - it would be impolite not to." (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A315929)

"Let us take another example: Scottish country dancing. This is very social, it involves use and development of skills, and is relaxing in the sense that tensions can be discharged. It is in addition a complete world of its own, with special costumes and rituals, and it includes the arousal of a great deal of joy, partly through the music."

Argyle, M., The Psychology of Happiness (London, 1987).
An article from Men's Health (Australia - Jan 03) magazine explored this further - Have A Fling by Sean Thomas.